Symbols of Protest

Meanings in Different Cultures

Symbols That Have Different Meanings in Different Cultures

In the Phillippines you can be arrested for beckoning someone with your finger because it implies that he or she is a dog.

In China it's rude to leave your chopsticks standing up in a bowl of rice.

The "V" sign in Great Britain in comparative to our middle finger.

In many parts of Europe and North Africa the thumbs up sign doesn't mean "yes" or "super" it means "sit on this."

Shoes as an Insult

Notice the shoes on the George Bush poster.

This is a shoe statue in Tikrit (Saddam Hussein’s hometown) to honour shoe tossing Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi. As well there is a Bush growing out of the shoe to represent the President